1962 Ford Zephyr Reviews

Ford has come out swinging against Chinese rivals in Australia's growing plug-in hybrid ute segment, but does its Ranger-based PHEV have the right mix of price, power and performance to be the tradie's choice?

A top-end ute has received a major set of upgrades. The price and specifications for Ford’s 2026 F-150 range have been revealed. There are three variants, all in dual-cab form, with the base XLT starting from $114,950, which is an $8,000 jump from the previous model.There is some good news on the price front, with buyers now able to choose from short or long wheelbase options without additional cost. It keeps its 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin turbo-petrol engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm, with a 10-speed auto transmission. The XLT gets a part-time four-wheel drive system, while the two more expensive variants get a full 4WD set-up. There is plenty of new kit available on the base XLT, receiving several standout cosmetic additions such as chrome door handles and an exhaust extension. It also gets a 12-inch touchscreen and 12-inch digital drivers display as standard. The F-150 will battle Chevrolet’s Silverado and the RAM range for market share, with the two brands combining for more than 80 per cent of Aussie large dual-cab sales.All F150s are imported to Australia and then re-manufactured to right-hand drive in a Victorian RMA Automotive factory.Deliveries will commence in early 2026.The XLT grade comes as standard with20-inch alloy wheelsChrome door handles12-inch touchscreen12-inch digital drivers displayChrome exhaust extensionCloth seats12V port in load box Lariat adds20-inch chrome-like alloy wheelsPower tailgate14-speaker sound systemWireless phone chargerHeated and cooled front seatsRear heated seatsLeather accented seatsTwin panel sunroofExtended chrome side stepsRain-sensing wipersPower and heated mirrorsPlatinum adds20-inch painted gloss alloy wheelsBlack Ford badgingSmokes colour exhaust tip extensionAuto side stepsMulti-folding tonneau coverMassaging seats2026 Ford F-150 safetyThe Ford F-150 has not been crash tested. Safety features on XLT grade: Auto emergency breakingReverse brake assistRear parking sensorsPost-impact brakingBlind spot monitoringTrailer backup assist360-degree camera Lariat addsAdaptive cruise controlEvasive steer assistIntersection assistFront parking sensorsPlatinum addsRear cargo view cameraFord offers a five-year/unlimited km warranty on its vehicles. 

A computer chip company bust-up threatens to send global auto supply chains for cars back to the COVID-19-era with extensive manufacturer delays. According to Reuters, computer chip maker Nexperia NV, is embroiled in a standoff involving the Chinese and Dutch governments, which has seen exports of its finished products banned. Nexperia is an important supplier of basic chips used in cars, it manufactures them in large volumes in Germany, before being packaged and distributed from China to the wider car industry. China has now banned the export of finished chips.China’s ban was in response to the Dutch government’s decision to seize control of Nexperia in late September, which is a subsidiary of Chinese-owned Wingtech. The Dutch government took the decision after it got wind of Nexperia potentially transferring ownership of some of its technology to Chinese parent company Wingtech in response to US restrictions. Nexperia became at risk of being impacted by a new US rule extending export control restrictions for certain companies. Wingtech was added to this new US restriction list, and because the company owns 100 per cent of Nexperia, they also fall onto the restriction list. Nexperia reported a net profit of $331 million in 2024, highlighting its value to the car manufacturing supply chain. While there are alternatives available to Nexperia chips, car manufacturers' significant dependence on them means there will likely be a lag in transition. Earlier this month, US-based Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai said Nexperia’s shutdown would quickly hamstring production. “If the shipment of automotive chips doesn’t resume quickly, it’s going to disrupt auto production in the US and many other countries and have a spillover effect in other industries," he said according to Reuters. The good news is that negotiations are ongoing and the dispute could be resolved within the next few days.The growing Chinese car industry is also reliant on Nexperia chips, giving incentive for all parties to end the standoff according to Netherlands’ Economy Minister Vincent Karremans. “We have a mutually dependent relationship,” he said in an interview on Dutch television show Buitenhof. Karremans will personally meet with the Chinese minister responsible soon to attempt to resolve the industry-threatening dispute.

This could be the future of car multimedia.Officially launched in May this year, Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of Apple CarPlay, a smartphone mirroring platform that’s enjoyed by millions of iPhone users every day.Yep, Android owners, this review isn’t for you – unless you’re considering making the switch to Apple’s iOS mobile software.It’s the Apple CarPlay many have come to know and love, but it takes control of all of your vehicle’s screens, as opposed to just its central display.It also assumes control of (nearly) all of your vehicle’s functions, including its climate, camera and radio controls, plus all other general settings.Point being, it’s a complete Apple takeover, which is good news if you’re a fan of its ecosystem.And let’s face it, many car brands’ default multimedia systems are underwhelming for a multitude of reasons, including bad user interfaces and limited functionality.Apple CarPlay and even its Android Auto competitor don’t suffer from those issues as they are literal mirrors of the user-friendly and highly capable smartphones that we love to use every day.Most users will say their primary reason for preferencing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto over their vehicle’s default multimedia system is access to their favourite satellite navigation platform, be it Apple Maps, Google Maps or a third party.Several car brands have either launched or are in the process of rolling out new default multimedia systems based on Android Automotive, which is a car-specific derivative of Android Auto with Google Maps and Google Play built in.Much like Apple CarPlay Ultra, Android Automotive takes over all of a vehicle’s screens and functions – and sometimes even still offers Apple CarPlay support – but it differs by being the default multimedia system.Apple CarPlay Ultra sets itself apart as it can be wirelessly streamed on demand to any vehicle that supports it.Apple CarPlay Ultra’s first problem is availability. The first model to support it was the highly attainable Aston Martin DBX707 large SUV. It’s priced from a lazy $462,500, plus on-road costs, for reference. And yes, I am being sarcastic.You would’ve thought that car brands beyond Aston Martin would’ve jumped at the opportunity to offer the latest smartphone mirroring platform, but they haven’t for several reasons.Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, Rivian and Lincoln have either cancelled or said they have no plans to support Apple CarPlay Ultra, with some saying they are not impressed with its first version due to the level of control it gives to Apple.General Motors’ Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC brands are also unlikely to support Apple CarPlay Ultra in its new electric vehicles due to its controversial decision to not even support regular Apple CarPlay.That said, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche and Genesis, as well as Aston Martin, remain committed to adding support for Apple CarPlay Ultra in the 12 months from its launch, meaning they should start to release their versions by May 2026.Nissan, Honda, Land Rover, Jaguar, Infiniti and Acura also announced plans for Apple CarPlay Ultra support when it was previewed at Apple’s WWDC 2022 event, but it remains to be seen if they’ve changed like so many others have.Another sticking point for car brands is the implementation of Apple’s user interface and experience, which differs greatly from their own.However, Apple is open to working with car brands to put their own design spin on their version of Apple CarPlay Ultra, with Aston Martin being the first example.To work out what this actually means, I got the keys to a MY25 Aston Martin DBX707 to give it a red-hot go.First thing’s first, getting Apple CarPlay Ultra set up is a very similar process to that of regular Apple CarPlay, but you have to wait a little bit longer.Once you’re in, the central display has a very familiar look to it, but the home screen features three new apps: Climate, Radio and Vehicle.As mentioned, the Climate and Radio apps do exactly what you think they will and well.But it’s the Vehicle app that is the most interesting, as in the case of the DBX707, it features everything from Individual drive mode customisation to clock settings.That said, while the DBX707’s delightful Bowers & Wilkins sound system has its own setting menu, if you click on it, it will ironically boot you out to an inset version of the default multimedia system to make your adjustments. The same goes for its ambient lighting.Presumably this happens because Apple and the car brand (Aston Martin in this instance) haven’t configured some of these more bespoke settings.And for that reason Apple CarPlay Ultra doesn’t quite live up to the hype for me. Don’t get me wrong, it is very, very exciting for a tech nerd like myself, but it’s also very clearly a first version.When it inevitably becomes all encompassing with a future iOS update, it will be a true game changer due to its ease of use, particularly as drivers move from one car to another.But wait, there’s more! Apple CarPlay Ultra also takes control of the DBX707’s digital instrument cluster and it’s really where Aston Martin gets to flex its design muscle in conjunction with Apple.Different themes for the driver display are available, with the ‘traditional’ one featuring a speedometer and tachometer, which are split by an even more customisable section. It features either maps, current media, adaptive cruise control, the trip computer, tyre pressures or more.The colours and layouts are at the discretion of the car brand, with Aston Martin using its signature hues (think green) in the DBX707.The British marque also goes a step further with the aforementioned tachometer, which features very subtle ‘Handbuilt in Great Britain’ lettering in the top right corner.Another interesting thing about the Apple CarPlay Ultra experience is that every time you turn your vehicle’s ignition on, it automatically activates – but it takes a decent amount of time to do so, during which you get to experience the default multimedia system.It’s still very early days for Apple CarPlay Ultra, but the early signs are very promising. It offers iPhone users an interface that they’re familiar with and an experience that they’ll likely love.But Apple CarPlay Ultra’s success will mainly be dictated by the support of car brands, which need to play ball to roll it out. Also, it’s got a few more vehicle settings that it needs to fully integrate.But there’s no doubt that Apple CarPlay Ultra’s potential is very high.

The Ford Ranger Stormtrak launches into an increasingly congested plug-in hybrid ute market, but it promises to do things a little differently to the top-selling BYD Shark 6.

History’s most influential van ever turns 60. With a global impact that includes Australia, the Ford Transit changed the way vans were designed, engineered and marketed from the very moment it hit the streets – initially in the UK and Europe – in October, 1965. Today the Transit is to Europeans what the Holden and Ford utes meant to Australians and what the F-Series pick-up is to Americans.

Recently one of my colleagues wrote an opinion piece praising the virtues of convertibles and sadly made the observation that affordable new ones have now become extremely rare. I’d like to set the record straight and clarify my own position on cars without a roof — they’re terrible in every way.

With the first quarter of this century already over, we take a look back at the biggest mistakes made by car makers in Australia over the past 25 years.

Believe it or not, we’re now three quarters of the way through 2025. Where did the year go?

Ford has beefed up its rugged Ranger Raptor.